Harlem VFW places hundreds of flags on graves for Veterans Day

HARLEM, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Hundreds of flags were placed on the graves of local veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice at Harlem Memorial Cemetery on Veterans Day.

The VFW post in Harlem placed the flags.

The post places flags at the cemetery twice a year, on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Ronald Gilchrist, commander of VFW Harlem, said Veterans Day is not just about freebies. He said it is about honoring those who stood on the front lines for the country and are no longer here.

“They’re 320-ish veterans buried right here. They don’t get that luxury to go get something free. So there are 20 of us here. We could be out going to call it Veterans Santa Claus. No. We’re here because there’s 320 vets nobody else is going to take care of,” Gilchrist said.

The next veterans event the post will take part in is the laying of Wreaths Across America in December.